Septic tank construction



y 1951 H. A. VAN ORMAN ET AL ,8 5

SEPTIC TANK CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1949 INVENTORJ Hawmeo 0. MW 0mm me h. HNO0N May 22, 1951 H. A. VAN ORMAN ET AL SEPTIC TANK CONSTRUCTION M y 1951 H. A. VAN ORMAN ET AL 2,553,885

SEPTIC TANK CONSTRUCTION Filed April 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJ HOWARD 17. V0 ORMHN HHRRY H- HENDON Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE SEPTIC TANK CONSTRUCTION Howard A. Van Orman and Harry H. Hendon,

Birmingham, Ala.; said Harry H. Hendon assignor of one-half to Harry H. Hendon, Jr.

Application April 6, 1949, Serial No. 85,912

3 Claims.

This invention relates to metal septic tanks for the disposal of sewage, and has for its principal object to provide such a tank which shall b constructed in sections capable of being nested together and occupy a relatively small space in storage and shipping, and which may be readily assembled and installed.

A still further object of our invention is to pro vide a sectional septic tank wherein the sections are adapted to be nested and occupy little space in storage and shipping and which shall include a simple, fluid tight joint between the sections.

Another object of our invention is to provide a sectional septic tank which shall include at least one removable bafile and in which the sections may be nested together for shipping with the baffle removed from its operating position, together with means to hold the sections and bafile against shifting during shipment, and to hold 7 the ballle in position after assembly.

As is well known in th art to which our in vention relates, assembled tanks are bulky to handle andof low weight relative to size. These characteristics present difiiculties in manufacture and in storage and shipping, and subject them to a high freight rate. We have found by making such tanks in sections with the sections adapted to nest together, that economies in manufacture, storage and handling are obtained as well and, due to a lower freight rate thus obtained, material savings in freight costs are realized. In order to adapt the sections for nesting, we make them of progressively lesser lateral dimensions, and provide a readily sealed joint between the sections when assembled for use. One

or more of the baffles may be made removable, and improved means are provided for holding them in position when knocked down for shipping and when assembled for use. In addition, we provide means in such knockdown-assemblies to nest the usual grease trap in the tank sections, and thus further reduce the expense of storage and shipping.

Articles embodying features of our invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in. which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a cylindrical septic tank;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof showing the tank sections assembled. for use;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view'showing the upper section of-the tank inverted and nested in the lower section for storage and shipping, and also with a grease trap nested in the upper section and retained in place for shipping;

Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive are detail sectional views showing various forms of joints which we may employ between the sections;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing means for retaining the cover in place when the sections are assembled for use;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view showing a modified cover and means for retaining it in place when the sections are nested for storage and shipping;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view showing the retaining means for the removable bafile;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view showing one form of retaining means for the grease trap when nested in the tank for shipping;

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view showing another form of anchoring means for the grease trap in the nested sections;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a rectangular septic tank made in accordance with our invention;

and. a

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of the tank shown in Fig. 14.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention, we show in Figs. 1 and 2 a cylindrical septic tank comprised ofa lower section IE! and an upper section H. The lower section IE] is provided with a bottom 12 and the upper section II is provided with a removable cover l3. Mounted in the lower section it is a removable baiile I4 which extends across one side of the lower section, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, and which is held in place by means of lateral metal clips l5 and I! and a lower metal clip l8. As best shown in Fig. 11, the metal clips it, I! and I8 are preferably spot welded to the sides and bottom, respectively, of the tank so as to leave the ends free for bending to engage the bafile I4 and hold it in position when the tank is in use. The lower section [3 of the tank is provided with an outwardly and upwardly turned upper edge 2|, such as shown in Figs. 2 and 4,. or other to be described hereinafter.

The upper section H of the tank is similar to the lower section It except that it is of lesser diameter whereby, with the cover i3 and the baille l4 removed, it may be inverted to fit snugly within the lower section ID as shown in Fig. 3 of the-drawing. The upper section II is provided with a lower, outwardly turned edge 22, slightly less in diameter than the cutturnecl edge 2! of the lower section Ill, which fits within the outturned edge 2| of the lower section, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, thereby providing a sealing groove 23 which extends all around the tank. This groove is filled with a suitable sealing material 24, for example, a bituminous material such as asphalt, or tar, to provide a tight joint. As the joint is sealed, as shown in Fig. i, the upper edge of the outwardly flared rim 2| may be bent over the outwardly turned edge 22 as shown at 26 in a plurality of places, to retain the sections against accidental displacement.

Instead of the form of joint shown in Fig. 4, we may provide the upper edge of the section with an outwardly flared portion 21 followed by a straight vertical portion 28 as shown in Fig. 5, and provide the lower edge of the upper section II with an outwardly flared portion 29 which bears against the outwardly flared portion 2? of the lower section It. Such arrangement provides a deeper packing groove and aids in assembling the sections in proper position.

Still another form of joint between the sections, which we may employ, is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, in which the upper section II is provided with an upwardly turned over flange 32 form-ing a groove 33. The lower section 10 is provided with an outwardly flaring portion 31 which, when the sections are assembled for use and the sealing material placed in the groove, is bent over as indicated in dotted lines to en-- gage the groove 33.

Yet another form of joint is shown in Fig. '7

of the drawing in which the upper edge of the lower section I!) is formed with an outturned portion 28 which is bent slightly downwardly, as shown, and then upwards at forming a groove extending around the section for receiv-.

ing the outwardly flared portion 29 of the upper section Ii. It will be seen with this form of joint, that when the upper section II is fitted over the section [0 as indicated in Fig. '7, there is a greater resistance to the crushing action of the earth when the tank is installed in the ground.

Yet another form of joint between the sections is shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawing in which we show the lower section It! provided with an out-.

turned horizontal portion 35 followed by an upturned vertical portion 40. The upper section II is provided with an outturned flange which rests on the horizontal, outturned portion 35 of the section in. With the form shown either in Fig. 7 or Fig. 8, the upwardly turned portion of the joint may be bent over, as indicated in dotted lines to prevent accidental displacement of the sections. Also, it Will be understood that the groove formed by the joint may be filled with sealing material as hereinbefore described.

Sewage is introduced into the upper section H of the tank through an inlet connection 3'! and is directed downwardly by the usual inlet baflle 38. Liquid flows over the baflle l4 and out under the usual outlet ba-flie 39 and outlet 4| to the soil disposal area, as is well understood.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing we show the manner in which we nest the sections of our improved tank for storage and shipping. It will be noted that the section II is inverted from the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing and is inserted within the section ill, the diameter of the section II being sufiiciently less than that of the section [0 for it to fit snugly within the section I 9. The bafile I 4 i laid down fiat in the bottom of the section It] and is held against shifting by having one end of the clip I8 bent down over it and by means of a clip 42 at the opposite end, spot welded as shown to the bot- 4. tom l2 of the section I!) and bent down over the baffle 14 as shown. In Fig. 3, we also show a conventional grease trap 43 which may be nested within the section I l and rests on the bafile M. The grease trap may be held in this position against shifting by means of clips 44, a suitable number of which are welded to the sides of the grease trap at the bottom and have a portion 46 extending radially outwardly therefrom. Cooperating clips 41 are welded to the 'baflle l4 and have a portion 48 which hooks over the radially extending portion 46 of the clip 44 to hold the grease trap in place as shown in Fig. 12. It is contemplated that these clips will be of relatively heavy gauge metal which can be bent over with hand tools when the articles are packed for shipment.

Instead of the means shown in Figs. 3 and 12 for anchoring the grease trap against shifting, we may place the grease trap 43 in the position indicated in Fig. 13 of the drawing, at one side of the nested sections, where it can bear against the b-afiie 39 and the side of the upper section. A metal strap 45 may extend around the trap as shown, and be fastened to the sides of the tank section at 50 and 55 in order to anchor the trap against shifting.

The cover !3, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is inverted as shown in Fig. 3 with its rim 49 turned up. It is held in place for shipping by means of clips 5|, a suitable number of which are welded to the sides of the lower section l0 and are bent over to the position shown in Fig. 3 when the tank is packed for shipment or storage. The cover l3 and the sections l l] and H are thus held against relative displacement. When the tank is assembled for use, the clips 5| are bent over the rim 49 and the cover l3 to hold it in place as shown in Figs. 2 and 9.

In Fig. 10 we show another modification in which the cover 13 is made larger in diameter than the largest diameter of the lower section in. In such case, the rim 49' of the cover is turned down to fit over the outer diameter of the lower section II]. The lid is held in place, and the nested sections thus held against relative displacement, by means of the clips 5| which pass upwardly over the lid as hereinbefore described. While we have shown, for the purpose of illustration, a minimum number of retaining clips, it will be understood that, in every instance where retaining clips are shown that a suitable number will be employed to hold the parts in assembled relation.

In Figs. 14 and 15 We show a modified form-of our invention in which the tank is made rectangular in shape, rather than cylindrical, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The tank comprises a lower rectangular section 56, and an upper rectangular section 5'1, the lateral dimensions of the upper section being such that it may be inverted and nested within the section 56, forming therewith a relatively snug fit. The lower section 56 is provided with a bottom 58 and the upper section 51 is provided with a removable top 59. A relatively high vertical bafiie 6: is mounted in the sections 56 and 57 and is held in place when assembled, as shown in Fig. 15 by means of lower clips 52 and 63 on the opposite sides thereof and upper clips 64 and 55 which are welded to the sides of the section 51 and which bear against the opposite sides of the baiiie 61. When the tank is packaged for shipment, the

baffle BI is turned to the dotted position shown in Fig. 15 and is held in place against shifting by means of clips 67 and 62. The battle 6| may be perforated as required, as shown at 98, as is well understood in septic tank construction.

In this modification of our invention, we prefer to employ the form of joint between the sections that is shown in detail in Fig. 7 of the drawing due to the flat sides of the tank which are more subject to bending and relative displacement than the cylindrical form shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In all other respects our improved tank follows conventional septic tank design and requires no detailed description. The upper section 57 is of such lateral dimensions that it may be inverted and nested in the lower section for shipping and storage and the cover 59 secured as already described for the cylindrical tank.

While we have described our septic tank as embodying an upper section adapted to nest in a lower section, it will be apparent that the upper section of either the cylindrical or rectangular tank may be made the larger, and the lower section be nested in the upper. It will also be apparent that the construction is not limited to two sections, but may comprise three or more sections of progressively smaller diameters, whereby to telescope, or nest, one within the other. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that we have devised an improved tank construction which is simple of design, economical of manufacture, and one which may be packaged for handling and shipping in a small space and thereby greatly reduce the freight rates applicable to its shipment.

While we have shown our invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a septic tank, a lower section, an upper section similar to the lower section but having an inlet and an outlet and having slightly smaller lateral dimensions whereby when inverted it is adapted to nest within the lower section for shipping and storage, a removable bafile member in the lower section, and a clip member welded to the bottom and adapted to have one end bent upwardly to bear against the baffle and hold it in operating position when assembled and to be bent downwardly to engage and hold the baffle against shifting when lying flat on the bottom in shipping and storage.

2. In a septic tank having an inlet and an outlet, a lower section having a bottom, an upper section similar to the lower section but having slightly smaller lateral dimensions whereby when inverted it is adapted to nest within the lower section for shipping and storage, a removable bafiie member in the lower section, a clip member welded to the bottom and adapted to have one end bent upwardly to bear against the .bafiie and hold it in operating position when assembled and to have one end bent over to engage and hold the bafiie against shifting when lying flat on the bottom in shipping and storage, a removable cover for the upper section adapted to cover both sections when they are nested, and means to hold the cover and the sections in nested relation.

3. In a sectional septic tank having an inlet and an outlet, upper and lower similar sections with one section of slightly lesser lateral dimensions than the other whereby to invert and nest it in the other section for shipping and storage, a removable vertical baiile in the lower section adapted to lie flat on the bottom of said section for shipping and storage, metal clips welded to the bottom of the lower section each having one end free for bending over the balile, at least one of said clips also having one end free for bending upwardly to retain the bafiie in position when the tank is assembled for use.

HOWARD A. VAN ORMAN. HARRY H. HENDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 262,232 Kowalevsky Aug. 8, 1882 1,376,216 Mittinger Apr. 26, 1921 1,386,340 Wuster Aug. 2, 1921 1,412,912 Bain Apr. 18, 1922 1,547,855 Burson July 28, 1925 1,602,053 Steinruck et al Oct. 5, 1926 1,634,871 Hepler July 5, 1927 1,708,118 Carpenter et al Apr. 9, 1929 1,719,419 Bennett July 2, 1929 2,300,259 Kueppers Oct. 2'7, 1942 2,412,785 Torricelli Dec. 17, 1946 2,440,762 Sitton May 4, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,624 Great Britain 1913 544,533 France 1922 510,629 Great Britain 1939 

